Primary schools in Trafford

We’re making the move from London and as my parter will be working in Warrington and I’ll be working in central Manchester Trafford seems an obvious place to live. We’ve got a 15 month old son. We’ll rent first then buy later but I can’t stop panicking about primary schools (I know it’s a while off!). I know there are great ones in the area but I know a lot of them are over subscribed. Do all kids get places even if not at first choices? We’ll use school catchments as a guide when buying but that almost seems pointless as I’ve heard some people don’t get in even if within catchment. I keep waking in the night worrying he won’t get in anywhere! Is it a bad idea moving to such a popular area?! Can someone remind me what a great place to live Trafford is and it’ll all be worth it!!

I should point out that I always worry about stuff way before I need to. We can easily rent in the area and then find out if buying there will be right for us. But I can’t work out how it all works if there are so many people wanting primary school places. Are there loads of kids who just don’t get in or who have to travel miles to another school?

There’s lots of great primary schools in Altrincham. If you find a house and are worried about the School catchment then it’s worth phoning the school and asking for information for the last few years as to where the actual cut off was.

I fon’t Know w anyone who had to travel miles to a primary school. You fill out a form with your choices and as long as you are picking local schools you should get one. The only times I think it can be tricky is if you’re moving into an area once places have already been allocated.

Just a word of advice to check the Trafford admissions guidelines - we moved into Trafford as we applied for school places and had to have at least a 12 month tenancy (or to have exchanged contracts on a purchase) in order for our address to be considered as our "permanent" address. That was a few years ago but you need to check.

As a pp has said, there are few cases of not getting a school close by, but just check the admissions criteria / catchment for each school carefully.

Do you have a particular area in mind? Trafford covers a very large area. The schools in Altrincham, Sale and Timperley are great. Trafford also covers Stratford, Clifton, Urmston and others. Have you been to the areas at all to get a feel for them first?